Divine Mercy; or, the temporal advantages of the Sabbath

'Divine Mercy' is an essay written by one of the winners of The Sabbath Essay Competition, George Bryan. It lays out his perspective on the importance of Sabbath, best described by the following excerpt: «Barren and debased must be that man who is insensible to the lovely character and genial influences of the Sabbath-day! It is a day on which the heart, if only susceptible of the ordinary feelings of conviction, must ever beat with the sweetest emotions of gratitude for the many blessings which it confers; for, in whatever condition we contemplate the varied members of society, whether individually or collectively, it is alike beneficial and indispensable. Hence the first dawn of the Sabbath beams with sympathy toward every human creature. To despise such an invaluable boon—by a willful violation of the beneficent but absolute law of God—is to be utterly regardless of life in this world, and to exhibit no desire to participate hereafter in the blissful joys of heaven!»